Card for sequence sorting



July 15,1947. A, AREMBQLD 2,424,053

' CARD FOR SEQUENCE SORTING Filed June 7, 1944 mamas mmmzens Tana umTsnLmu-rnous. nu-1nous. nwuw's mmnn's mus um I uvmvron. 01.0131 ll. RansomPatented July is, 1941 v UNITED STATES PATENT orrica '5 Claims. (c12916.1)

This invention relates to eel-as, fiat sheets, and

metre (hereinafter referred to as cards), for

classification purposes and for sequence sorting. These cards are formedadjacent one or more edges thereof with openings or perforations, one

v or more of which are slotted out to the edge of.

the card adjacent thereto'to provide a notch'or pattern ofnotchesidentifying the card. The openings in all cards are arranged toregister witheach other when the cards arein a stack so that aseparating rod thrust through one set at a time of any sets ofregistering openings, and then lifted, will carry with it all cards inwhich said-v openings are not slotted out, leaving the others free tofall from the stack.

'I'hemethod"employedv for sequence sorting is old. Broadly speaking, thegeneral structure is old. Openings to be slotted out have heretoforebeen arranged in one, two or three rows that are parallel with an edgeof the card. These rows are divided into fields, and these fieldsordinarily have the same number of openings in each, and the openings ineach field usually have numbers identifying them. They are called codedopenings. The fields, in series from one end 'of' the rows to the otherare customarily identified for "units, tens," hundreds, thousandsf'etc., according to the length of the card and the extent to which thenumerical classifying system may be required.

Heretofore the openings in each field have been one of the following:.two wide (indirection parallel with the edge adjacent thereto) andthree deep (in-direction perpendicular to the edge adjacent thereto);three wide and two deep; or four wide and one deep. Four numbera'such as1, 2, 4, 8 or other providing for single and comv z cant has increasedbyone, the capacity of each field for classifying purposes withoutincrease in the number of openings in each field.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a card that is illustrative of the invention,and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a similar card but with a different patternof notches.-

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a card showing a field slotted outin accordance with the invention, but which slotting is slightlydifferent from the fields identifying the same numeral in fields than isshown in F188. 1' to 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a card showing a' field slotted outin a manner for obtaining an additional classification in each field, ifso desired.

The cards and openings in each example are identical, so they will besimilarly numbered in describing them. The structure providing thevariations -in the invention will be differently numbered to avoidconfusion.

. Each card I is provided with a row of openings 2 close to an edgethereof and parallel therewith, while a second row of openings 3 isparallel with said edge but spaced slightly farther therefrom. Thus, apair of parallel rows-of openings is adjacent one edge I of the card. 0!course,

bination identifications of from 1 to 9 inclusive,

1 have been used. In the latest developments only four openings areprovided in each field and-these have been in one or the other of theabove arrangements. Inasmuch as the card space exclusive of thatrequired ,for the openings is the highly important space for printed orwritten data, the eflorts of those skilled in the art has beenconstantly devoted to attempts to restrict the space required for theopenings without.

sacrificing the capacity thereof for classiflcatory work. Thus, ifsin-arrangement of openings could beprovided in which the four openingsrequired in each field could be two wide and two deep, the spaceheretofore required for the openings could at once be reduced by athird. This is what applicant has accomplished, as will hereinafter bedisclosed more in detail, and in addition, applia pair of rows of suchopenings may also be along .any one or more of the other edges of saidcard,

if desired.

The openings in these rows are the same in number and are arranged forproviding adjacent pairs with the openings of each pair in alignmentperpendicular to the edge so each pair comprises an opening from rows 2,I respectively. The openings of said rows are divided by lines extendingperpendicular to said edge 4 into groups of two of .said adjacent pairs,thereby providing four openings in each group arranged two wide (indirection parallel with edge 4) and two deep (in direction perpendicularto said edge).

The openings in row 2 of each group may be identified by the numerals1," and 3," and the openings in row 3 of each group may be identified bythe numerals "7" and 2.

Following the usual practice of slotting out such openings singly or incombinations of two,

it will be clear from Figs. 1, 2 that all digits is directly to the edge4, except in the 08M of the No. '7 cards.

notch or slot that opens outwardly of the edge 4 extends slantinglydownwardly to opening I and below the other opening 8* that is thecompanion of opening 1 but in row 2. Thus opening 8 in row 2 is leftunimpaired.

In'the above manner, provision is made. for sorting oi the digit "6,"and whether the numerals identify the openings in a manner to make ana 1other specific numeral 6 the one identified with the generally diagonalslotting, or under cut, as

described above, is immaterial'inasmuch as the same or equivalentstructure will be used.

In Figs. 1, 2 the opening identified by numeral "1" is not only slottedout, but also the opening it directly therebelow, although this is notnecessary, as is seen in Fig. 3 wherein a true diagonal slot fromopening I to the opening in row 2 in the adjacent pair of openings isused, leaving opening l unimpaired. In the type or notching shown in the"ten-thousand field of Fig. 1, the

No. 6 card will drop from the sorting pin when the latter is thrustthrough the hole coded with the numeral "2, whereas in the type ofnotching shown in Fig. 3, the No. 6 card will not drop until the pin isthrust through the opening coded with the numeral "7. The final result,however, is the same, and card No. 6 will always be in its correct orderafter a complete sorting operation for placing the cards in their propersequence. The only thing is that it makes an additional drop irom thepin in the type 01' coding used in stack.

the "ten-thousand field of Fig.1 over the type of coding used in Fig. 3.In Fig. 4, the system of punching is used as shown in my United StatesLetters Patent No.

2,339,519, ot'January 18, 1944.

In Fig. 5, a diagonal slot H is provided that extends in a directionopposite to the slot shown in Fig. 3. This structure may be used toidentity the digit not represented by a possible slotting out along theshortest line directly to the edge of the card, such as numeral 6provided the coding is arranged to cause the card to drop in the sameorder as where the slot extends in the opposite direction, as in thecard of Fig. 3. I! the coding of the card 01' Fig. 3 were used on thecard of Fig. 5, then in the sorting operation the card of Fig. 5 wouldfinally appear between the No. 4 and No. 5 cards instead of between theN 0.5 and- V The punching oi "the card shown in Fig. 5 may represent asymbol in addition to numeral "6 according to the arrangement of thecode numerals and the numerals used. Of course, similar structure tothat illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 (except for the oppositeinclination or edge 9) may be employed with respect to the card or F1 5.

The sorting for one field, from "0 to "9 will be described to explainhow the cards are sorted, it being assumed that the stack of cards arenumbered from *0 to 9. Inasmuch as resort must be had to a second fieldto obtain the numeral "10," the operations described will be restrictedto only the one field, and which may be assumed to be the fielddesignated "units on the cards.

The sorting pin is first thrust through the opening numbered 1 and uponlifting the pin the cards identified as 0, "3" and 7" will stay on thepin, while the cards identified as l, 2, 4,

, 4 I The cards on the pin are removed therefrom. and those that droppedare placed in the rear of the stack and the pin is then inserted inthrough the openings that are numbered "2, thus freeing the cardsidentified as 2, 5, 6,. and "9."

The above freed cards are placed in the rear oi the stack and the pin isnext thrust through the opening designated "3? and is lifted to freecards as n3, n4. (:5): "7, U8," and "9,? which cards are placed in therear 01' the At this point it is pertinent to note that neither of thecards designated "6 came out, hence will be ahead oi the card designated"7" in the final arrangement;

The next operation is to thrust the pin through the opening designated"7, which will free the cards designated 6, "7," "8? and "9" in exactlythat order, with card No. 6 being the first card. These cards are placedin the rear of the stack, and cards 01' the stack are now in accuratesequence with the "0 cards in trout and the others following from "1 to"9" in order.

It is clear that some modifications may be made in the exact structureshown in the drawings, but in each instance the diagonally extendingedge 8, so arranged as to clear the upper opening of the pair, will beused. The inclination of this edge is such as to permit substantiallyfree sliding on a conventional separating needle or implement in asorting operation without tilting the stack or out openings in a fieldindicates a zero for that field.

Having described the invention, 1 claim: 1. A card for classificationpurposes that is provided with a plurality of adjacent pairs of codedopenings formed therein adjacent an edge thereof with the openings ofeach pair being in alignment perpendicular to said edge whereby oneopening of each pair is closer to said'edge I said first pair with whichit than the other, the said other openin of one pair of said openingbeing slotted out to said edge through the said one opening of the pairadjacent thereto leaving the oppositely aligned opening of the said onepair unimpaired.

2. A card for classification purposes that is provided with two rows ofopenings along an edge thereof parallel therewith, means dividing saidrows transversely thereof into groups of two adjacent pairs of openingsin each whereby each group comprises a first pair and a second pair inwhich the first pair is closer to said edge then the other, the openingsof said second pair being respectively aligned with the openings of saidfirst pair along lines extending substantially perpendicular to saidedge, one of the openings in the second pair of at least one group beingslotted out to said edge through the opening in the first pair of thesame group that is laterally ofl'set relative to the opening with whichsaid one opening is aligned leaving unimpaired the opening in is soaligned.

3. A stack of cards for sequence sorting each being provided adjacentanedge thereof with a plurality of groups of coded openings arranged ina pair of rows parallel with said edge, the openings in the respectiverows being equally spaced apart and the openings in both rows being inpair aligned with each other in direction perpendicular to said edge,the said openings in said rows being in separate groups or two adjacentpairs of such aligned openings in each group, patterns of notches insaid edge oi. each card extending to various of said openings, one ofsaid notches in certain of said cards extending from said edge to one ofthe openings 01' one or said aligned pairs in the row that is mostremotefrom said edge leaving the other opening in such pair unimpaired.

4. A stack of cards for sequence sorting each being provided adjacent anedge thereof with a plurality of groups oi coded openings arrangedin apair of rows parallel with said edge, the openings in the respectiverows being equally spaced apart and the openings in both rows being inpairs aligned with each other in direction perpendicular to said edge,the said openings in saidrows being in separate groups of two adjacentpairs of such aligned openings in each group, patterns of notches insaid edge oi each card extending to various of said openings, one ofsaid notches in certain of said cards extending from said edge to one ofthe openings or one of said aligned pairs in the row that is most remotefrom said edge leavingthe other opening in such pair unimpaired, andsaid onev oi said notches extending through the opening nearest the saidedge in the pair of aligned openings adjacent the said unimpairedopening.

5. A stack of cards for sequence sorting each being provided adjacent anedge thereot with a plurality of groups of coded openirgs arranged in apair of rows parallel with said edge, the openings in the respectiverows being equally spaced apart and the openings in both rows being inpairs aligned with each other in direction perpendicular to said edge,the said openings in said rows being in separate groups of two adjacentpairs of such aligned openings in each group, Patterns or notches insaid edge of each card extending to various of said openings, one orsaid notches in a certain of said cards extending from said edge to oneor the openings of one of said aligned pairs in the row that is mostremote from said edge leaving the other opening in, such pairunimpaired, one of the side edges of each of said one of said notchesextending slantingly toward said edge below said unimpaired opening.

ALBERT A. REMBOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 294,724Great Britain 1928

